November 30, 2012

Ware: Spencer is playing how we expected him to play since day one

Linebacker Anthony Spencer has arguably been the Cowboys best defender if not their best player over the last month, surpassing leading-sacker DeMarcus Ware who has been hobbled all season with hamstring injuries.

The team thinks so much of his play and effort that they have made the defensive play caller in place of the injured Sean Lee and Bruce Carter.

Consider Ware impressed as well that Spencer is finally living up to the expectations the Cowboys had for him since taking him in the first round of the 2007 draft.

"Spencer is playing how we expected him to play," Ware said. "He is stepping up and making big plays and getting pressure when its needed and he is not even rushing half the time. That's what we have been looking for since day one when they drafted him and he is delivering."

Ware still leads the Cowboys with 10 sacks to rank fourth in the league but his eight game streak of at least 1/2 sack was snapped against the Redskins. He has had only one sack in the past three combined after recording nine in the first eight games of the season as he continues to be slowed by hamstring issues that have limited him in practice as well as games.

But Ware is making no excuses, he said his focus is to get to the games and do the best he can to help the Cowboys.

"I'm healthy enough to play the game," Ware said. "I get out there and stretch and do what I need to do during the week to get ready to play."

Comments

With all of the am string issues this team has, the strength and conditioning coach should be fired. It is his responsibility to keep the players in decent shape, he is obviously having them do way to much with the quadriceps thereby creating a weakness and shortening of the hamstring complex.